BRS demands CEC’s resignation over alleged voter deletions in Telangana

The BRS has demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and an independent probe into alleged voter deletions in Telangana. Party leaders claimed 95 lakh votes were deleted statewide and around 1.06 lakh in Karimnagar constituency alone.

Hyderabad: The BRS has demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and an independent inquiry into alleged large-scale voter deletions under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Telangana.

Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan on Friday, BRS parliamentary party leader Vaddiraju Ravichandra alleged that the Election Commission was acting in favour of the BJP. He demanded the restoration of deleted names, an inquiry into the role of local officials and a probe into applications filed under Form 7 seeking the deletion of voters.

---

He said around 95 lakh votes had been deleted in Telangana and alleged that constituencies represented by BRS MLAs were disproportionately affected. He also demanded the disclosure of decisions on which the two Election Commissioners had reportedly differed with the CEC and sought clarification on concerns surrounding electronic voting machines (EVMs).

Karimnagar MLA and former Minister Gangula Kamalakar said around 1.06 lakh votes had been deleted in his constituency alone. He said he had received a notice and that several people had lost their voting rights because they had failed to submit explanations. He demanded the immediate removal of Gyanesh Kumar from office.

MLA Palla Rajeshwar Reddy alleged that the BJP was the principal beneficiary of the deletions and accused the Congress government in Telangana of facilitating the process. He said voter deletions were higher in constituencies won by the BRS and called for Gyanesh Kumar’s removal, arrest and an investigation.

He also announced that the BRS protest planned outside the Chief Electoral Officer’s office at Burgula Ramakrishna Rao Bhavan on Saturday had been postponed in view of the festivals. He said the party would organise large-scale protests at a later date.

Former Minister Errabelli Dayakar Rao demanded that all 95 lakh deleted names be restored to the electoral rolls. He said removing the CEC from office alone would not suffice and called for an inquiry into his alleged lapses.